There are very few places left in the world where you can watch a pirate fight the King of Spain, eat a turkey leg the size of your forearm, and watch a glassblower hand a child a piece of molten art…all before lunch.
The Oklahoma Renaissance Festival is One of Those Places
I went this past weekend for the first time in seven years. It was pirate weekend, which meant no jousting, but plenty of swashbuckling entertainment to fill the gap. The singing pirates were charming, the sword-fighting comedy show had the crowd laughing throughout, and Bob the Juggler was the kind of performer who reminds you that pure skill and genuine showmanship never get old.
The Food Alone is Worth the Trip
My cousin went straight for the classic turkey leg…the unofficial mascot of every Renaissance festival in America…along with a funnel cake and a homemade root beer that somehow works without carbonation. I went a different direction with the Meat Monster Burger, which lived up to its name.
The vendors are where the festival earns its soul, though. Glass art, intricate wood carvings, hand-tooled leather work, and of course, the bladed weapons…always my personal favorite. Beautifully crafted knives, swords, and axes displayed by people who genuinely love what they make.
Scroll through to view some of the crafts.
What struck me most this time was watching the skilled artisans take time to show children how their craft works. A glassblower explaining “technique” to a wide-eyed kid. A woodcarver letting small hands feel the tools. The falconry demonstration drawing a crowd of all ages. There’s something quietly important about that…skilled people choosing to pass something on rather than just perform.
The festival also honored mothers with a special parade and flowers, which felt right given the day.
I’ll be going back in two weeks with an old friend from my years in China. His wife and child have never experienced anything like this. I can’t wait to see it through their eyes for the first time.
If you haven’t been to the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival, it runs weekends through late May.
Go.
Take your kids.
Get the turkey leg.
Watch Bob juggle something improbable.
Some traditions are worth keeping alive.
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